Bringing Up the Rear, Pt.1

So, two of my closest college buddies have family blogs.  It's so great to stay up to date on their kids and lives and all of that (as if we don't all email multiple times per week...but really, the blog pictures are great).  Of late though, I am feeling like I am not keeping up with the Jones' (or Hollands...or Holoubeks, whatever the case may be).  So, I am here with a renewed sense of blog fervor!  I will catch up - and stay up to date through the holiday season (and beyond!).  

Here goes.

Back in August, we visited the state fair with Nana & Papa.  It was the first of what I would find to be many events which included a giant container of corn kernels in which kids are expected to play (and who knew they'd find them to be SO. MUCH. FUN.).  I believe this was the highlight of the day.

 Well, either that, or holding a real live chicken!  Blurry pic, but you can still see the big ol' grin.

We also got to check out a real live caboose!  It was pretty awesome too.

 I have to say that we enjoyed our trip to the fair, but I do look forward to next year, as I think we will find the activities to be more age appropriate.

MP and MP2 had a great dad/kid day visiting the TN State Railroad Museum when they were hosting a day out with Thomas the Train.  There was a lot  of marketing Thomas the Train toys, but there was also an actual train ride (!!!)

 ...and even better (and totally unrelated), a petting zoo!

In early September, MP2 took quite a tumble (no injuries) out of his crib as he tried to climb out in the dark...so we brought out the toddler bed.  The first few days were extremely iffy.  I was convinced we were never going to sleep again and MP2 would not stay in his room ever again.  Within days, I was proven incorrect.  I had no idea the love of rest that MP passed along to our son!  ;)

We've gotten to do some fun things with MP2's new bestie W.  Here was a trip to the zoo which included a visit to the lemurs (not pictured) and then the rest of our time there spent on the giant playground.

 Though now and then a trip to the playground does not end well!

The USS LST 325 visited Nashville and MP2 and I checked it out with our buddies.

 W and MP2 trying to break into the emergency exit...

 ...and then checking out how a sailor sleeps!

 Friend love.

 MPs loving the wagon.

 At the pumpkin patch, corn bin #2 of the season.  As you can see, also a new development with the smile on cue.  A very large, very open mouthed smile is what we get these days.  It's pretty funny looking, but very endearing.

 Choosing our pumpkin in 2.2 seconds so we could make it back to the tractor/hayride as it was loading up the waiting passengers.  It was an "out and back" kind of thing, and we heard on our way "out" that it was a close to 30 minute wait for the "back" part of the trip, and that wasn't going to fly with our schedule...so we hightailed it into the patch, grabbed the first decent pumpkin we saw, snapped a quick pic and ran back to the tractor in record time.

 On our way home with the goods.

 That 70s show casting photo, or MP2's school picture?  You be the judge!

Another bestie.  SD is MP2s favorite girl in the world.  He loves playing with her and they are pretty freaking adorable together - as evidenced below!  They took swim lessons together earlier this summer and I like to think that mom's continued cajoling to get wet as they both tried to divert attention away from swimming cemented their friendship.

Just ending with MP2 looking cute :)

Hold on to your hats, friends - next up is MP2s first haircut, Halloween 2012, and MP's swearing in ceremony (hooray, congrats for passing the bar, honey!!!).  Then, requiring it's own devoted post, our trip to FL last month to attend cousin Jessica's wedding and visit with Ama, Grandpa, Teesa & Isla.